Andrew Raven
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Dec 02/05) - A man with a history of crack-cocaine abuse and a love of filet mignon will spend another 30 days in jail.

Richard Bain, 46, pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of possession of crack cocaine, charges of theft for stealing nearly $450 in meat and for twice failing to appear in court.

Bain was arrested June 3 and Aug. 23 outside the now closed Right Spot Bar and Grill. Both times, police found a small amount of crack-cocaine and a black pipe with drug residue, said Crown prosecutor Steven Hinkley.

Bain, who is unemployed, told the court that crack-cocaine dominated his life and caused him to lose over 100 pounds.

"I'm getting too old for this," Bain said. "I realize I have made some bad decisions. This drug took over my life."

Bain admitted stealing nearly $450 worth of meat from a pair of grocery stores this summer. On one occasion, he snuck out with $293 in prime cuts.

"What's he taking?" asked Judge Robert Gorin. "Filet mignon?"

Hinkley responded that Bain has "excellent taste in meat."

Because he spent 99 days in custody, Bain need only spend another 30 days behind bars, ruled Gorin.

Bain's decision to plead guilty also saved the court "considerable time and resources," Gorin said.

The man was originally charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking, but that was later reduced to simple possession. Hinkley also stayed nine other charges during the court appearance, including one count of assaulting a police officer. The Crown can bring those charges back within a year, though that is rarely done.